USA-ISRAEL/NETANYAHU SPEECH REAX Netanyahu's speech to Congress gets mixed reception in Israel

Record ID: 399236

  • Title: USA-ISRAEL/NETANYAHU SPEECH REAX Netanyahu's speech to Congress gets mixed reception in Israel
  • Date: 3rd March 2015
  • Summary: NIR MOSHE, ISRAEL (MARCH 3, 2015) (REUTERS) ISRAELI OPPOSITION LEADER ISAAC HERZOG ADDRESSING CROWD AT ELECTION EVENT HERZOG TALKING AS SEEN ON CAMERA SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI OPPOSITION LEADER ISAAC HERZOG SAYING: "Make no mistake. As prime minister I will totally be committed to assuring that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon. And on this we have no argume
  • Embargoed: 18th March 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4DDGMCI70UYXGQQXT5G28QOMU
  • Story Text: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have made an argument that many Israelis support in warning Congress on Tuesday (March 3) about a potential nuclear deal with Iran, but critics asked whether it was worth the widening rift with the White House.
    The address was broadcast live on Israeli television and radio, and came at politically sensitive time - just two weeks before a closely contested election in which Netanyahu is seeking a fourth term.
    Israeli political commentators called it a polished performance by the U.S.-educated politician, but agreed with President Barack Obama's assessment that Netanyahu offered nothing new in his criticism of U.S.-led talks with Iran.
    No snap polls were published immediately after the speech. But a series of standing ovations in Congress, where the Republican invitation to Netanyahu angered Democrats, could provide rousing commercial spots for his campaign.
    Such showcase moments, critics said, were his real motivation for going to Washington, allegations denied by officials of his right-wing Likud party.
    Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog, Netanyahu's main challenger in the election, delivered his formal response to the speech during a campaign visit to a farming community on the Gaza border.
    "Make no mistake. As prime minister I will totally be committed to assuring that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon. And on this we have no argument with Prime Minister Netanyahu. But the Zionist Union has a different approach. We will protect Israel against a nuclear Iran by working together with our allies and with our best friend the United States of America and not against it. Democrats and republicans alike, the American political community has always been united in its commitment to Israel's security. And I truly hope that today's speech will not hurt or hamper that unique unity," Herzog said.
    "I will avoid political manoeuvring in order to reach to that goal and work in full trust with the international leadership in order to convince it on what is a bad deal, what are the terms of a bad deal, in order to make sure that we make sure that we reach a good deal. I know what needs to be done. Our countries must stand together and together we will stand," he added.
    Listening to Netanyahu's address, Israelis voiced mixed feelings.
    "The speech was a great speech. I support the prime minister on his journey to the States. And it is a very important message that he has to bring to the American people. And I hope that the right decision will be made to eliminate Iran from possession of nuclear weapons with intentions not only for Israel, for the whole world," said Tel Aviv resident Mark Amzaleg in a local cafe.
    Another customer said Netanyahu made a good case in arguing against what the prime minister called a deal that would fail to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
    "I think that this speech helped us a lot," said Yoni Yanai, adding that Netanyahu showed U.S. legislators that "a different solution, a different deal is needed".
    Another customer, Karni Mazali, disagreed, saying: "I think that Bibi's (nickname for Netanyahu) speech cannot help the relationship between Obama and Israel. It can only damage. I would prefer had he not delivered this speech and stayed in Israel."
    An opinion poll released several hours before the speech gave the centre-left Zionist Union 24 seats to 21 for Likud in the 120-member parliament.
    But even facing that margin, Likud still seemed to have the advantage in enlisting enough political allies to form a governing coalition.
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